Power of prayers
Published on: Sunday, October 25, 2020
By: Dr T Selva
Text Size:
The prolonged crisis is causing hardship and suffering to all of us and no one knows when will the coronavirus end.
Our lives now depend on our strength to hold on and protect ourselves from being affected by the disease with the hope it will vanish soon.
From ancient times, prayers have been found to provide solace and optimism to anyone looking for comfort when faced with any predicament.
It does not matter which faith you follow. What is important is one should be God conscious.
For some, today is Sunday and it would be a day to seek divine grace by visiting places of worship of their respective faiths.
Prayers are vital to ease the stressful lifestyle many of us put up with daily now and holy books in all faiths urge people to seek ease through contemplation at least once after sunrise or before the start of their daily routine.
It can be done at the place where an individual resides or at any place of worship.
Seeking celestial mercy should be consistent and not only pray when we run into problems.
Spiritual practices and activities should be part and parcel of our daily conscious living.
Why? Such obeisance leads us to the path of self-discovery and makes our life more meaningful and, in the process, guides us to handle our challenges with might and confidence.
From young, I have been taught by my late mother that prayer is so powerful that when it is done with full faith and respect, it can remove obstacles, anger, fear, struggles, hatred, health issues and problems, and it provides protection and ensures peace of mind.
Seekers may pray for removal of obstacles or even worldly expectations but don’t expect instant results because in life you only get what you deserve and not what you desire.
However, those who perform their prayers with strong intent without expectations often get answers and fulfilment.
Besides performing our spiritual duties at home, visiting powerful places of worship also helps us to further enlighten ourselves.
It is said that you don’t have to believe in spirituality but by placing your foot at any such holy site, one can experience transformation because of the peaceful force they vibrate.
I have been often asked what is my favourite sacred place is among the many different faiths I have visited worldwide and I am unable to pick one in particular.
But in my top five spiritual places would certainly be the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.
The Golden Temple in Amritsar has some powerful subtle energy that draws devotees to visit it again and again.
To me, the place should be considered as one of world’s wonders because its beauty is astonishing and the peacefulness it exudes is so therapeutic.
The Harmandir Sahib or the Abode of God, popularly known as the Golden Temple, is a living symbol of the spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs.
It has been a source of inspiration to the community and a place of pilgrimage ever since its establishment in the 16th Century.
The devotion shown by the devotees visiting the temple is overwhelming and I marvelled at the architectural splendour of its gold domes and minarets and its ornate marble hallways.
The Buddha is known to have spent time at this place in contemplation and 2,000 years after Buddha’s time, another philosopher-saint came to live and meditate by the peaceful lake.
This was Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh religion.
After the passing away of Guru Nanak, his disciples continued to frequent the site. Over the centuries, it became the primary sacred shrine of the Sikhs.
The temple’s architecture is richly ornamented with marble sculptures, golden gilding, and large quantities of precious stones.
Within the sanctuary, on a jewel-studded platform, lies the Adi Grantha, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. This scripture is a collection of devotional poems, prayers and hymns composed by the Sikh gurus.
The amazing thing about this temple is that hymns are chanted to the accompaniment of flutes, drums and stringed instruments round the clock.
The enchanting music echoes across the serene lake and it induces a powerful state of trance in the pilgrims walking around the marble concourse encircling the pool and temple.
Throughout the day and night, pilgrims immerse themselves in the water – a symbolic cleansing of the soul rather than an actual bathing of the body – before entering the temple proper.
Next to the temple complex are enormous pilgrim dormitories and dining halls where all persons, irrespective of race, religion, or gender, are lodged and fed for free.
Another thing that moves me is that the temple is operated through a voluntary service and although thousands of devotees and tourists visit the ground every hour, all movements are done in an orderly manner with discipline.
One thing I am sure about is that I will be returning to the Golden Temple again once the borders are opened because it has some powerful subtle energy that draws devotees to visit it again and again.
- Dr T. Selva is a speaker and author of the bestseller book Vasthu Sastra Guide. To get a copy, contact 012-3299713. He can be contacted at [email protected] Facebook: Vasthu Sastra and Website: www.vasthusastra.com
ADVERTISEMENT
